Operations Officer 1 RAR, Major Peter Van de Peer, said the EF88 was already a popular weapon with the soldiers who used it during trials to date.

“We are very much looking forward to employing the new EF88 during coming support company courses, Tully jungle training rotations and Exercise Wantok Warrior in Papua New Guinea,” Major Van de Peer said.

Private Jake Whitlock of 1 RAR was involved in a previous trial of the EF88.

The EF88 being issued to 1 RAR will be equipped with an enhanced day sight, foregrip and, for grenadiers, a grenade launcher attachment.

Lessons learned from the rollout of the EF88 to 1 RAR will influence the introduction into service of the EF88 and ancillary packs provided by Land 125-3C from 2016.

Land 125-3C Project Officer Major Mick O’Sullivan of Army Headquarters said in addition to the introduction of the EF88, Land 125-3C would include a range of state-of-the-art weapon ancillaries to optimise the performance of the EF88.

“Land 125-3C will deliver the EF88 with ancillary packs configured to the tier and role of the recipient,” Major O’Sullivan said.

A tiered approach has been adopted for Army’s Soldier Combat System (SCS). Land 125-3C will provide the EF88 and ancillary packs according to the SCS tiers to allow soldiers to have the equipment they need for their role.